Tag Archives: Redemption

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me alone and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?” -Quote attributed to atheist Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller

Yes, how much do you have to hate someone to not share with them the way out of eternal damnation, in effect, the good news?

The sermon today was centered around this statement: “Friends share good things with their friends. That’s what friends do.” Of course they do. After all, they’re friends. However, the first statement then led to a question: “Why then is it so hard to share the gospel?” A good question with many answers. Put another way, if you have a friend headed to prison, and you have a “get out of jail free” card, why wouldn’t you give it to them? Of course you wouldn’t want to see a friend suffer. Would you?

So, I just noticed I have 270 friends on Facebook (1133 Twitter followers). I’m sure I’ve shared with them the “good news,” but if I haven’t, here you go friends of mine.

I once lived a destructive life that not only hurt me, but hurt others around me. I wallowed in my sin and had one foot in the grave, but didn’t know it. God saw me in my helplessness and sent his son to rescue me. Whereas I was lost, I am now found. In Jesus Christ, I have been redeemed. I now have a peace that surpasses all understanding. I have a hope for the future. I have a purpose for living. I’m no longer a slave to sin. I no longer have to fear death.

The good news. News that everyone needs to hear. Friend or foe. We all need redemption. Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost. And that would be everyone.

This letter is to you my old, long time master. You owned me once, back when I was your slave. And I was your slave for such a long time. And I was an obedient slave, doing all that you ever asked. But you were a cruel master, reveling in my misery and pain. You loved to see me crushed under the weight of the burdens you heaped upon my back. You, Mr. Sin, were an evil taskmaster and I would cry out in my pitiful state, asking for mercy, but you had none to give. You owned me and there was nothing I could do about it. For where could I go? I was left to weep in my bed, awash in my tears, alone and unheard. But then one day, someone did hear me.

One day an innocent man died for me. It was the price you had set Mr. Sin, in order for me to be free. It was the cost of my redemption. The blood of the innocent lamb. The lamb without blemish. It was his blood that redeemed me. It was him who set me free. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ who paid the price to you once and for all, and now I am free. I have been redeemed.

I now have a new master. A master who loves me and whose yoke is easy and whose burdens are light My new master never wants to see me suffer. He goes to the Father on my behalf. He cares for me. He is busy preparing a place for me. He is always with me and will never leave me. He was tempted in all things, but never gave in and was never beholden to you Mr. Sin. The cost for my redemption was steep, but I am grateful. For without redemption I would still be in bondage to the evil slave master, you Mr. Sin. And I would be lost and alone.

As this song, Redeemed, by Big Daddy Weave attests, I’m not who I used to be. The heavy chains have been removed and the many stains wiped clean. The outside scars may forever be there, but I no longer feel the pain. Inside I am healed, clean and whole. An unworthy man has now been made worthy. I am a free man! Hallelujah!

For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there seems to be something big going on around here. People are acting strange. Pleasant, no unusually pleasant, but strange just the same. As I walk the streets I hear bells, all kinds of bells, large and small. Silver bells and sleigh bells. Gold, silver and brass bells, ringing, ringing, beautiful melodies up and down. Kettles are being stuffed with money as the bells ring in a constant rhythm and people hurry and scurry about in the hustle and bustle of the season.

I see mistletoe and wreaths and boughs of holly. People are opening doors for strangers and being polite and saying thank you and God bless. In addition to gold and silver I see red and green decorations all around. Trees and houses and yards strung with multi-colored lights. Ornaments are hung on trees and along fireplace mantels and stair railings. Choirs are singing songs of joy and happiness and peace and good will. The stores are decked out and stuffed full and people are buying gifts, multitudes of gifts, and wrapping them up in pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue. They’re giving these gifts to loved ones and strangers and expecting nothing in return.

And smiles are in abundance. The children aren’t crying or pouting and they are watching out so that they aren’t bad, but good and well-behaved. And when the children lie in their beds, they do so with visions of sugarplums in their heads. Sugarplums? Mommies and daddies are on their best behavior, and mommies are seen kissing total strangers dressed in red, a response no doubt to the overwhelming joy being felt this time of year. And the kids all talk of reindeer and snowmen and elves and sleighs and a fat old man in a red suit, and presents. More and more presents. The food being prepared and the smells coming from the houses are rich and sweet and inviting. People are hosting parties and the celebration goes on for weeks.

Along with all the singing and music are plays and cantatas and movies and concerts and cd’s and albums and songs about this child and the shepherds and the angels and the wise men and a mother and a father and a baby and sheep and donkeys and drummer boys and a star dancing in the night. And more songs about merry gentlemen and the good king Wenceslas and a little town called Bethlehem and herald angels singing and a midnight that was clear and holy. And chestnuts roasting on an open fire and snow, white snow and much mistletoeing and hearts glowing. So many songs and so much joyful singing.

And then after all the presents and eggnog and parties and parades and It’s a Wonderful Life, and everyone has fallen off to sleep; the silent night gives way to a baby in a manger. And it’s this baby in a manger who seems to be the focus of the celebration. Who is this newborn king who inspired all the songs and celebration? Who is the one who would bring such joy to the world? Maybe the baby’s name explains it, Jesus, meaning, “God saves”. Or as the angel explained to Joseph as recorded in Matthew, “…and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

A story of a family. A story of a boy. A story of redemption. A coming-of-age tale. Siblings and best friends. Playing hide and seek and kissing your first girl. Going to the drive-in movies in the back of the family station wagon. Writing “I will not fight on the playground” one thousand times. Humorous. Heartwarming. Delightful. Wholesome. Stories that will make you think of simpler days and innocent times. You will laugh and you may cry, but you will enjoy these two books. If you haven’t read them, don’t wait. You owe it to yourself. Little Heathens and Always a Little Heathen. Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online retailers; available in Kindle and Nook versions.